EVENTS & ACHIEVEMENTS

EVENTS & ACHIEVEMENTS

Plaque Brachytherapy for Uveal Melanoma: The First Treatment of Its Kind in Lebanon

On Thursday, October 11th, 2018, Clemenceau Medical Center (CMC), in affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine International set another benchmark in the treatment of malignant tumors. This time, it was for “uveal melanoma”, a type of primary eye cancer that grows behind the retina. A specialized team of doctors performed the first treatment for uveal melanoma in Lebanon using plaque brachytherapy, which entails placing a radioactive gold plaque on the surface of the eye overlying the tumor. The plaque will then emit radiation to destroy the tumor cells, enabling the physicians to locally control the tumor growth and help save the patient’s eye and vision.

Broadcasted live for the first time in the country, the new treatment modality was handled by a CMC team of ophthalmologists, ocular oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiation physicists: Dr. Hassan Abdelaziz, Dr. Nicolas Zouain, Dr. Charbel Merheb, Dr. Abed Mroue, and from LAUMC Dr. Nicolas Ghazi. The procedure was performed on a 46-year old Lebanese woman who had been struggling with distorted vision due to uveal melanoma for more than two years.

The achievement came only one day prior to CMC’s hosting of the Annual Cancer Care Forum in its 6th edition, to reiterate CMC’s commitment to delivering better treatment alternatives for patients, with oncology as an ongoing priority. The forum’s objectives were to examine the integration of novel Radiotherapy procedures in the multimodality management of cancer, recent indications of Immunotherapy and regulatory approved new drugs in hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, and lastly reinforce the role of multidisciplinary approach of cancer care.

The Forum, which took place on October 12 and 13, gathered world-renowned speakers from Johns Hopkins Medicine International and experts from Lebanon and the region, to discuss the latest in cancer cases and treatments worldwide. To make this valuable knowledge even more accessible, participating doctors also held a dedicated exchange session with the media to answer all questions and queries about this ever-evolving field of medicine.

Clemenceau Medical Center (CMC) affiliated with Johns Hopkins Medicine International is the first in Lebanon to provide patients suffering from brain cancer cutting-edge therapy that significantly reduces treatment time and intervention level.

This comes after CMC served as the beta testing site for the breakthrough Novalis Tx technology, which provides precise, fast, personalized non-invasive cancer treatment with the possibility of targeting multiple tumors at the same time.

Today, through a one-of-a-kind shaped beam technology, radiation oncologists can now precisely target the patient’s tumor. Despite the use of the word ‘surgery’ in its name, radiosurgery does not involve removing the tumor with a surgical blade. Rather, it protects healthy tissue around the tumor, while delivering the best possible treatment dose.

Novalis Tx Radiosurgery has so far allowed thousands of people around the world to continue their day-to-day activities while being treated for cancer. The new system involves computer software that rapidly generates radiosurgery plans for patients with multiple brain metastases - cancer cells that have spread to the brain from primary tumors in other organs. This allows for the treatment of multiple tumors at once, reducing the radio-surgical time by 70 minutes in a usual 90-minute treatment session.

Clemenceau Medical Center: First to Launch Non-Invasive Prostate Treatment Program in Lebanon (14/08/2018)

Clemenceau Medical Center affiliated with Johns Hopkins Medicine International (CMC) launches the Prostate Artery Embolisation (PAE) Program, a revolutionary non-invasive option for selected patients with benign enlargement of the prostate gland. Led by Interventional Radiologist, Dr. Kabalan Yammine, in collaboration with Head of Department of Urology, Dr. Nadim Ayoub, the program was officially announced after successfully performing the first case in Lebanon

The PAE program provides a minimally invasive alternative to bladder obstruction from an enlarged prostate. PAE is a non-surgical way of treating an enlarged and troublesome prostate by blocking off the arteries that feed the gland and shrinking it. Performed by an interventional radiologist, rather than a surgeon, the procedure is less invasive than current treatment methods and provides quicker recovery for patients. It is typically performed on an outpatient or day case basis with no need for a general anesthetic or an indwelling urinary catheter, and an excellent safety profile.

Clemenceau Medical Center (CMC), in affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine International, hosted the 10th Annual Women’s Health Symposium. Experts from Johns Hopkins Hospital and around the region gathered to discuss prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of major women's health issues that are prevalent in Lebanon, the Middle East, and worldwide.

The list of international speakers included world-renowned experts from Johns Hopkins Hospital: Dr. Kamal Hamod and Dr. Stephen Martin.

Dr. Mounes Kalaawi, CEO of Clemenceau Medical Center, stated, “We are proud to provide a platform that brings together leaders and experts in health care for substantive discussions of recent women’s health topics. The speakers at the conference represent many important facets of health care – the patient, industry, and health care and service providers- who’s input and expertise are crucial as we work together towards the common goal of improving overall patient care.”

Clemenceau Medical Center Robotic Surgery Syposium with First of its Kind Live Surgery Transmission (23/06/2018)

Clemenceau Medical Center (CMC), in affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine International, hosted the first Robotic Surgery Symposium. Experts from Johns Hopkins Hospital and around the region gathered to discuss multi-disciplinary approach of optimizing the surgical robotic system for a seamless integration into the operating room of the future.

The aim of the symposium was to provide an opportunity for multi-disciplinary healthcare providers to address different topics related to minimally invasive surgery. The focus was set on how it has revolutionized the way in which a number of surgical procedures are performed resulting in precision surgery and quicker postoperative recovery times; in addition to how surgical robotics provide a new paradigm to further improve minimally invasive surgery interventions. The symposium ended with a live transmission of a total prostatectomy surgery performed by Dr. Nadim Ayoub, Dr. Feras Zahwa, and Dr. Mohamad Allaf. The inter-disciplinary forum attracted attendees from multiple fields including urologists, general surgeons, obstetrics & gynecology surgeons, oncologists, primary care and internal medicine physicians, engineers, healthcare managers, and nurses.

Dr. Mounes Kalaawi, CEO of Clemenceau Medical Center, stated, “Robotic surgery is a reality amongst us. High-precision surgery is no longer the future, it is the present and at CMC we were the first to bring this advanced technology to the region and paired it with highly qualified trained surgeons and a patient-centered quality & safety program. Moreover, as advocates of knowledge-sharing, we continue to enhance the expertise of our health professionals through our joint conferences with Hopkins experts.”

Clemenceau Medical Center named Excellence in Customer Service and Best Use of Technology in Medical Tourism in IMTJ Medical Travel Awards 2018

Clemenceau Medical Center has won two major international medical tourism award for their efforts in attracting international patients to Beirut, Lebanon.

Clemenceau Medical Center were named Excellence in Customer Service and Best Use of Technology in Medical Tourism by medical travel publication the International Medical Travel Journal Medical Travel Awards 2018 at their annual awards ceremony, the IMTJ Medical Travel Awards 2018.

The awards were presented on 23th May at a high profile reception in Athens, Greece during the IMTJ Medical Travel Summit, which brought together all the pre-eminent providers and experts in medical travel and medical tourism sectors.

The award was given to Clemenceau Medical Center that beat similar businesses/clinics from around the world to clinch the awards.

“At CMC we believe in healthcare with a purpose. In other words, we believe in healthcare beyond borders through the creation of Clemenceau Medicine network of affiliated hospitals operating within an integrated, cost-effective and high-quality service environment. We want to transform health care locally, regionally and internationally in order to provide the best services to our patients wherever they are located,” said Dr. Mounes Kalaawi, CEO of CMC.

Chairman of the judging panel and Managing Editor of IMTJ Keith Pollard says the awards celebrate the best providers in the industry and aim to encourage others to strive to match them:

“Medical travel is an exciting and growing global industry, with many providers delivering excellence in both medical care and customer service. The IMTJ Medical Travel Awards are the only independent awards to recognise those who are the best of the best - and hopefully will encourage others to emulate their success. The judges wanted to reward innovation and excellence, highlight best practice and celebrate those who are leading the way in the industry and delivering successful outcomes for patients.

“All our winners exemplify the way the medical tourism industry should be run – professional, offering exceptional patient care and providing the best possible medical outcomes. I’m already looking forward to next year’s awards in the hope that other clinics and companies will have raised their game to match or even better this year’s winners.”

ENDS

About IMTJ

The International Medical Travel Journal provides insight into the medical travel and medical tourism sector. IMTJ was established in 2007 in response to the increasing interest in medical travel and medical tourism. It embraces many of the themes that challenge healthcare providers across the world – insurance, accreditation, marketing and promotion, quality, patient safety, levels of care and experience in treating international patients.

IMTJ is independent of the associations and special interest groups that have come aboard the medical tourism bandwagon. Our aim is to create a central focus for information, resources and opinion on medical travel for those involved in the industry, anywhere in the world.

The internationalisation of healthcare through health tourism is at the heart of IMTJ. Patients are becoming healthcare consumers and in many countries, patient choice is being extended to surgery and treatment provided by international hospitals and clinics. By sharing expertise, knowledge, and views about the health travel industry, IMTJ helps to ensure that patient expectations are met, and that the industry maintains a high reputation.

The International Medical Travel Journal (IMTJ) is owned and managed by Intuition Communication, a specialist publisher of consumer and business-to-business information on private healthcare and medical travel. The company also operates a consumer facing portal for medical tourism – Treatment Abroad.

Clemenceau Medical Center 4th Annual Neurospine Summit (11/05/2018)

Clemenceau Medical Center (CMC), in affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine International, hosted the 4th Annual Neurospine Summit. Experts from Johns Hopkins Hospital and around the region gathered to discuss the latest trends and discoveries in surgical management of Spinal injuries, complication management in Spinal deformities, advances in Neuro-oncology, advances in Neurovascular disease, and management of pain and peripheral nerves.

The aim of the forum, held over 2 days, was to provide an opportunity for multi-disciplinary healthcare providers to address different topics related to the neurosurgical and spinal care of patients. The inter-disciplinary forum attracted attendees from multiple fields including neurologists, neurosurgeons, orthopedic spine surgeons, oncologists, imaging specialists, rheumatologists, pain management specialists, primary care and internal medicine physicians, physiotherapists and nurses.

Dr. Mounes Kalaawi, CEO of Clemenceau Medical Center, stated, “CMC is actively involved in providing high-quality tertiary healthcare services to our community, and in order to maintain that, dissemination of knowledge and exchange of know-how is vital. Treatment of the spine and neurological system is a complicated field of modern medicine, therefore is it crucial to have constant collaboration amongst experts on an individual level and amongst CMC and Hopkins on an institutional level.”

Clemenceau Medical Center Named as 2018 Top Healthcare Facility in the World, Again (28/03/2018)

Beirut, Lebanon – 28th March 2018: Clemenceau Medical Center (CMC), in affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine International, is being commended once again as an outstanding healthcare facility with high quality treatment and care that matches that of the best hospitals, not only in the Middle East, but across Europe and the USA. CMC has been listed No# 13 in the Top 25 Most Beautiful Hospitals in the World and also listed No# 2 on the Medical Travel Quality Alliance (MTQUA) Top 10 World’s Best Hospitals.

Dr. Mounes Kalaawi, CEO of Clemenceau Medical Center, stated, “It is an honor to be among this elite group of hospitals. Our mission has always been quality healthcare within international standards and this commendation demonstrates that our healthcare is patient-centered and of the highest quality; it reflects our incessant commitment to maintain these high standards of care.”

MTQUA reviews hospitals in Asia, Middle East, Europe and the Americas for excellence in treating and caring for medical tourists from around the world. The MTQUA team conducts site visits and selects hospitals based on the quality of medical treatment and on several non-clinical factors including quality of care, communications, marketing, value for money, cultural and social sensitivity, privacy, safety, and leadership support of medical tourism.

The 25 Most Beautiful Hospitals in the World list, interior and exterior features and their health-promoting qualities are considered. Designs including nature-inspired elements, soft color schemes, and exterior facades designed with regards to their natural settings placed these facilities on the list.

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About Medical Travel Quality Alliance (MTQUA)

Medical Travel Quality Alliance (MTQUA, https://www.mtqua.org), an independent international organization founded in 2009 to promote the special safety and quality needs in treatment and care of medical tourists, publishes the Top 10 World’s Best Hospitals For MedicalTourists™ and Best Practices in Medical Tourism. Medical tourism certification from MTQUA is the only global certification program for hospitals, clinics, agencies, and related services and providers.

Beirut, Lebanon – 28th March 2018: Clemenceau Medical Center (CMC), in affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine International, has been shortlisted for the International Medical Travel Journal (IMTJ) Medical Travel Awards 2018, which will take place on May in Athens. The IMTJ Medical Travel Awards seek to recognize and reward outstanding achievement in the medical travel, medical tourism and health tourism industry worldwide.

A panel of independent expert international judges, chosen for their experience in the medical travel sector, have studied the entries submitted and rated each submission independently on a predetermined set of criteria. Their combined ratings decide the finalists.

Dr. Mounes Kalaawi, CEO of Clemenceau Medical Center, stated, “We are very excited to have been shortlisted in what we believe was a very competitive process. Medical travel continues to expand globally and at we, at CMC, are keen to cater to this unique growth in health service provision.”

CMC was named Best Quality Initiative, Excellence in Customer Service, and International Cancer Centre of the Year at the IMTJ Medical Travel Awards ceremony in 2017.

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About International Medical Travel Journal (IMTJ)

The International Medical Travel Journal ( www.imtj.com) provides insight into the medical travel and medical tourism sector. IMTJ was established in 2007 in response to the increasing interest in medical travel and medical tourism. It embraces many of the themes that challenge healthcare providers across the world – insurance, accreditation, marketing and promotion, quality, patient safety, levels of care and experience in treating international patients. IMTJ is independent of the associations and special interest groups that have come aboard the medical tourism bandwagon. Our aim is to create a central focus for information, resources and opinion on medical travel for those involved in the industry, anywhere in the world.

Dr. Makary is a health care futurist, writing in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, TIME, and Newsweek. He is the author of Unaccountable, a book about health care transparency and Library Journal Book of the Year. He is known as the expert in healthcare innovation, quality measurement science, and public health disparities. At Johns Hopkins, he serves as Chief Islet Transplant Surgery and Professor of Surgery, and is the creator of The Surgery Checklist popularized in the book the Checklist Manifesto. He also has served in leadership roles at the United Nations World Health Organization for the Safe Surgery Saves Lives initiative. Dr. Makary was named one of America’s 20 Most Influential People in Health Care.

Clemenceau Medical Center’s affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine International provides a platform to discuss transparency in healthcare and encourage other healthcare institutions to improve healthcare standards by shifting their attention towards patient safety. Using colorful stories, Dr. Makary explains how lifestyle medicine, a new generation of doctors, and technology are shaping the future of health care. The aim of the lectures are to shed light on the future of medicine moving towards minimalistic appropriate and holistic care.

Dr. Martin Makary stated, “It is a privilage to be part of the strong partnership between Clemenceau Medical Center and Johns Hopkins that asks what’s the most appropriate medical care, focusing on right care rather than more care.”

Dr. Mounes Kalaawi, CEO of Clemenceau Medical Center, encouraged the sharing of expertise and practices between Johns Hopkins Medicine International and CMC in spreading maximum awareness and latest evidence in patient-centered care. He added: “Patient-centered care is now integral to the practice of modern medicine as it eliminates preventable harm and enhances transparency of clinical outcomes; a value that is deeply integrated in our mission as a leading healthcare provider.”

First Novalis® Certified Cancer Center in the Middle East (15/01/2018)

Clemenceau Medical Center (CMC) just became the first Cancer Center in the Middle East to receive a Novalis® Certified certification of compliance for quality and patient safety standards in Radiosurgery (SRS) and Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT).

Novalis® Certified is an independent accreditation program that promotes a very high standard of efficacy and safety for stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) treatments. The Novalis® Certified audit includes a review of organizational, personnel, technological and quality assurance requirements.

Through Novalis® Certified, patients in the Middle East can now have at CMC the highest measure of safety and treatment quality when researching Radiosurgery (SRS) and SBRT options for their cancer treatment.

Another record for Clemenceau Medical Center: Fourth consecutive accreditation by the Joint Commission International (21/12/2017)

This high recognition confirms once again the hospital’s leadership in healthcare

Clemenceau Medical Center (CMC) affiliated with Johns Hopkins International has proudly achieved the Gold Seal of Approval as a JCI-accredited medical center for the fourth consecutive time. Joint Commission International (JCI) works to improve patient safety and quality of health care in the international community by offering education, advisory services, and international certification to medical entities. CMC has maintained the accreditation, kept up to date with new standards, and surpassed expectations of performance improvement that JCI promotes. This accreditation is tangible proof of CMC’s mission of “Caring, Safety, Excellence” and incessant commitment to being a world-class medical center, implementing premier international medical standards in order to provide the highest caliber of healthcare services to its patients.

Richard Sheehan, team leader of JCI surveyor team, expressed his satisfaction by stating: “We as a team are asked if we feel you deserve to be accredited and we wrote in our report wholeheartedly yes”. He added, “The new score guideline maintains that all standards must have a score of 9.8; your score is 9.94”.

Dr. Mounes Kalaawi, Chief Executive Officer, was thrilled to receive the 4th JCI Golden Seal of Approval and declared: “I would like to congratulate every member of CMC’s family, from nurses to doctors and personnel, for their continuous commitment in serving one common goal, raising the standards of healthcare and patient care. The results today exceeded our expectations and CMC will continue to strive for the better and lead not only in Lebanon but in the entire region”.

Clemenceau Medical Center (CMC), in affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine International, hosted the 5th Annual Cancer Care Forum in conjunction with the global month of October for Breast Cancer Awareness.

The aim of the forum, held over 2 days, was to provide an opportunity for multi-disciplinary healthcare providers to address different topics related to the care of cancer patients. The forum attracted attendees from different disciplines including: prominent physicians and specialists, laboratory pharmacists, pathologists, nurses, medical directors, and hospital and health managers.

The objectives of the forum were focused on the value of the role of leadership in Cancer Care, the importance of research in Cancer, integration of novel Radiotherapy procedures in the multimodality management of Cancer, recent indications of Immunotherapy, the impact of primary care physicians in the care of Cancer patients, and review of recent regulatory approved new drugs in hematologic malignancies and solid tumors.

The list of international speakers included world-renowned specialists from Johns Hopkins Hospital and leading local physicians.

Dr. Mounes Kalaawi, CEO of Clemenceau Medical Center, praised the efforts of all the medical bodies - doctors, nurses, pharmacists and researchers – in spreading maximum awareness around cancer. He added: “The full-fledged CMC Cancer Center with most advanced radiation oncology department, our esteemed physicians and specialists, the morale of our nurses and supporting departments, all contribute in asserting our leadership position in Lebanon and the Middle East”.

Professor Marwan Ghosn, Director of CMC Cancer Department, confirmed in his speech: “We are confident that by bringing together different healthcare providers in this Forum from pathologists to radiologists, doctors and nurses, we contribute in offering better management of cancer care patients.”

Moreover, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, CMC’s façade has been lit pink to raise awareness and encourage people to take the necessary steps to reduce their risk of breast cancer.

Clemenceau Medical Center named Best Quality Initiative, Excellence in Customer Service, and International Cancer Centre of the Year in IMTJ Medical Travel Awards 2017

Clemenceau Medical Center has won a major international medical tourism award for their efforts in attracting international patients to Beirut, Lebanon.

Clemenceau Medical Center were named Best Quality Initiative, Excellence in Customer Service, and International Cancer Centre of the Year by medical travel publication the International Medical Travel Journal Medical Travel Awards 2017 (http://awards.imtj.com) at their annual awards ceremony, the IMTJ Medical Travel Awards 2017.

The awards were presented on 26th April at a high profile reception in Opatija, Croatia during the IMTJ Medical Travel Summit, which brought together all the pre-eminent providers and experts in medical travel and medical tourism sectors. The Awards were generously supported by Primorje-Gorski Kotar County.

The award was given to Clemenceau Medical Center that beat similar businesses/clinics from around the world to clinch the awards.

“We are very proud of this achievement and triple win. This international acknowledgment of CMC’s efforts and relentless commitment for high quality patient care is close to heart. Medical travel is a booming sector and we work hard to ensure that all medical travelers get the best possible treatment, to heal well, and to be able to return safely to their homes. We want to put Beirut back on the Medical Travel map and today is evidence of our success,” said Dr. Mounes Kalaawi, CEO of CMC.

Chairman of the judging panel and Managing Editor of IMTJ Keith Pollard says the awards celebrate the best providers in the industry and aim to encourage others to strive to match them:

“Medical travel is an exciting and growing global industry, with many providers delivering excellence in both medical care and customer service. The IMTJ Medical Travel Awards are the only independent awards to recognise those who are the best of the best - and hopefully will encourage others to emulate their success. The judges wanted to reward innovation and excellence, highlight best practice and celebrate those who are leading the way in the industry and delivering successful outcomes for patients.

“All our winners exemplify the way the medical tourism industry should be run – professional, offering exceptional patient care and providing the best possible medical outcomes. I’m already looking forward to next year’s awards in the hope that other clinics and companies will have raised their game to match or even better this year’s winners.”

ENDS

Notes for editors:

About IMTJ

The International Medical Travel Journal ( www.imtj.com) provides insight into the medical travel and medical tourism sector. IMTJ was established in 2007 in response to the increasing interest in medical travel and medical tourism. It embraces many of the themes that challenge healthcare providers across the world – insurance, accreditation, marketing and promotion, quality, patient safety, levels of care and experience in treating international patients.

IMTJ is independent of the associations and special interest groups that have come aboard the medical tourism bandwagon. Our aim is to create a central focus for information, resources and opinion on medical travel for those involved in the industry, anywhere in the world.

The internationalisation of healthcare through health tourism is at the heart of IMTJ. Patients are becoming healthcare consumers and in many countries, patient choice is being extended to surgery and treatment provided by international hospitals and clinics. By sharing expertise, knowledge, and views about the health travel industry, IMTJ helps to ensure that patient expectations are met, and that the industry maintains a high reputation.

The International Medical Travel Journal (IMTJ) is owned and managed by Intuition Communication, a specialist publisher of consumer and business-to-business information on private healthcare and medical travel. The company also operates a consumer facing portal for medical tourism – Treatment Abroad.

Clemenceau Medical Center Ranked 2nd in the Top 10 List of the World’s Best Hospitals for Medical Tourists (05/04/2017)

Beirut, Lebanon - March 20th, 2017: Beirut-based Clemenceau Medical Center (CMC), affiliated with Johns Hopkins International, has been chosen once again by the Medical Travel Quality Alliance (MTQUA) as one of the Top 10 World’s Best Hospitals for Medical Tourists. More impressively, CMC has secured a solid spot on the MTQUA Top 10 this year ranking at 2nd place, an achievement for the distinguished, world renowned, and reputable medical Center.

It has been under the exemplary leadership of CMC’s CEO and co-founder Dr. Mounes Kalaawi that its high quality in treatment and patient care can be compared to the best hospitals not only in the Middle East, but in the world.

“Our strategic aim is to position CMC as the first choice not only for local patients, but also for patients in the world seeking excellence in medical care, the best medical knowledge, quality of care and the best technology available," said Dr. Mounes Kalaawi, CEO of Clemenceau Medical Center. “It gives us great pride to have Lebanon placed on the list of one of the world’s leading destinations for international patients. CMC achieved and maintained over the years distinction in patient’s satisfaction.”

CMC is continually advancing itself in order to meet and fulfill the growing needs of patients from all over the world through the provision of a complete scope of services in order to facilitate their referral and all aspects of their visit to the hospital. Each patient is appointed an international multilingual coordinator in order to manage all aspects of the medical journey from beginning to end. Services offered include assistance in physicians selection, management of medical consultation and coordination of hospital admission, air ambulance transportation management if needed, coordination with Johns Hopkins Medicine International via telemedicine for Medical Second opinion if necessary and finally assistance in hotel and travel arrangement.

MTQA’s annual ranking is centered on a strict international study on patients, hospitals, and healthcare travel agencies in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas for distinction in treating and caring for international medical tourists. By visiting the hospitals, and comprehensively assessing them, the MTQUA team selects the best institutions based on the quality of medical treatment and patient’s safety, in addition to many non-clinical aspects such as privacy, culture and social sensitivity, value for money, communications, and quality of care.

With this international accolade added on to CMC’s long list of recognitions and accreditations, the hospital proves once again that Lebanon is a medical tourist hub that competes with the world’s top destinations, offering the best resources and quality of health care.

For more information about the Medical Travel Quality Alliance (MTQUA), please visit: https://www.mtqua.org/

Clemenceau Medical Center Named as Center of Excellence in Customer Service in IMTJ Medical Travel Awards 2016 (30/05/2016)

Clemenceau Medical Center, Beirut wins major international award

Clemenceau Medical Centernamed as center of excellence in customer service in IMTJ Medical Travel Awards 2016

Clemenceau Medical Center has won a major international medical tourism award for their efforts in attracting international patients to Beirut, Lebanon.

Clemenceau Medical Center were named as center of excellence in customer service by medical travel publication the International Medical Travel Journal Medical Travel Awards 2016 (http://awards.imtj.com) at their annual awards ceremony.

The awards were presented on 24th May at a high profile reception in Madrid during the International Medical Travel Journal Medical Travel Summit, which brought together all the pre-eminent providers and experts in medical travel and medical tourism sectors. The Awards were generously supported by the Tourism Association of Madrid and Spaincares.

The award was given to Clemenceau Medical Center in recognition of their excellence in customer service. Clemenceau Medical Center beat similar businesses/clinics from around the world to clinch the award.

Dr. Mounes Kalaawi, Chief Executive Officer of Clemenceau Medical Center stated “Today CMC’s commitment to service excellence is recognised once again and exceeded all expectations. The IMTJ Medical Travel Award is a recognition to the hard work, professionalism and dedication to excellence in customer care that we developed in this hospital since its opening through implementing the hospitality services, providing a 5 stars environment to its customers; exceeding their expectations and increasing their satisfaction. CMC is continuously looking to improve its standards and raise the bar to higher level “.

Chairman of the judging panel and Managing Editor of IMTJ Keith Pollard says the awards celebrate the best providers in the industry and aim to encourage others to strive to match them:

“Medical travel is an exciting and growing global industry, with many providers delivering excellence in both medical care and customer service. The IMTJ Medical Travel Awards are the only independent awards to recognise those who are the best of the best - and hopefully will encourage others to emulate their success. The judges wanted to reward innovation and excellence, highlight best practice and celebrate those who are leading the way in the industry and delivering successful outcomes for patients.

“All our winners exemplify the way the medical tourism industry should be run – professional, offering exceptional patient care and providing the best possible medical outcomes. I’m already looking forward to next year’s awards in the hope that other clinics and companies will have raised their game to match or even better this year’s winners.”

About IMTJ

The International Medical Travel Journal ( www.imtj.com) provides insight into the medical travel and medical tourism sector. IMTJ was established in 2007 in response to the increasing interest in medical travel and medical tourism. It embraces many of the themes that challenge healthcare providers across the world – insurance, accreditation, marketing and promotion, quality, patient safety, levels of care and experience in treating international patients.

IMTJ is independent of the associations and special interest groups that have come aboard the medical tourism bandwagon. Our aim is to create a central focus for information, resources and opinion on medical travel for those involved in the industry, anywhere in the world.

The internationalisation of healthcare through health tourism is at the heart of IMTJ. Patients are becoming healthcare consumers and in many countries, patient choice is being extended to surgery and treatment provided by international hospitals and clinics. By sharing expertise, knowledge, and views about the health travel industry, IMTJ helps to ensure that patient expectations are met, and that the industry maintains a high reputation.

The International Medical Travel Journal (IMTJ) is owned and managed by Intuition Communication, a specialist publisher of consumer and business-to-business information on private healthcare and medical travel. The company also operates a consumer facing portal for medical tourism – Treatment Abroad.

Clemenceau Medical Center Brings News of Multi-Treatment Approach on Cancer to the Middle East (30/10/2015)

Every year, more than 145,000 people die in the Middle East as a result of cancer, according to global statistics collected by the American Cancer Society. If detected early, more than one-third of those deaths are easily preventable or treatable.
In order to discuss the latest trends and discoveries to treat lung, colorectal and breast cancers, as well as pain management, physicians from around the region gathered on Oct. 30-31, 2015, in the third annual Cancer Care Forum hosted by Clemenceau Medical Center, in affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine International, in Beirut, Lebanon.
The theme for this year’s symposium— Integrating New Radiotherapy Procedures in the Multimodality Management of Cancer—explores the benefits of combining more than one method of treatment when managing different types of cancer.

“The rising prevalence of cancer in the Middle East makes this gathering relevant to physicians and students alike,” said Dr. Mounes Kalaawi, CEO of Clemenceau Medical Center. “Having the opportunity to come together and confer on this important topic will help us advance care in the region.” Professor Marwan Ghosn, Director of CMC Cancer Department, added, “We are confident that connecting the different healthcare providers involved in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of oncology patients will bridge the gap between them and contribute to the improvement of cancer patients’ management.”

International speakers from USA, Turkey, and France, included two Johns Hopkins Medicine faculty. Dr. Phuoc T. Tran, clinical director of radiation oncology and molecular radiation sciences discussed new approaches to treatment of oligometastatic disease and lung cancer. Dr. Jean Wright, associate professor of radiation oncology and molecular radiation sciences at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, shared insights on post mastectomy radiation treatments and management of breast cancer. Moreover, Dr. Serdar Turhal, President of European Union of Medical Specialists, Oncology Section and Oncologist at Anadolu Medical Center affiliated with Johns Hopkins Medicine International in Istanbul, Turkey, highlighted the importance of regional collaborations in Oncology. Lastly, Dr. Olivier Dubreuil, medical Oncologist specialized in Gastro-Intestinal Oncology at at Pitié - Salpetrière Hospital in Paris, discussed in depth the indications and outcomes of Radioemobilization.

The Cancer Care Forum was the ideal platform to address current topics in Radiation Therapy as CMC prepares to open its new comprehensive Cancer Center with a specialized state-of-the-art Radiation Therapy unit in 2016. The unit, headed by Dr. Nicolas G. Zouain, will be the first in Lebanon and the region to install a new, state-of-the-art, image-guided technology that provides more accurate, concentrated doses of radiation. CMC has teamed up with Varian® and Brainlab®, the leading companies in the field of Radiation Oncology, to build the most advanced radiation oncology facility in the Middle East. The department will feature advanced procedures such as: Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT), Sterotactic Radiosurgery (SRS), Stereotactic Radiation Therapy (SRT), and Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT).

Clemenceau Medical Center, one of the top private hospitals in Lebanon, and Johns Hopkins Medicine International, the global arm of Johns Hopkins Medicine, have been affiliated since 2006. Through their collaboration, the two organizations have developed different clinical programs, supported all three Joint Commission International reaccreditation processes and strengthened capacity by providing lectures, workshops, seminars and conferences on site covering the topics of gastroenterology, cardiology, oncology, orthopedics, women’s health, internal medicine and nursing leadership, among others.

The cardiovascular team, composed of Dr. Omar Hamoui, Dr. Labib AbuDaher, Dr. Wael Jaroudi, and Dr. Omar Itani, at Clemenceau Medical Center successfully performed a life-saving and unprecedented heart procedure on a 92-year-old female patient on July 7th 2015. She is the oldest patient in Lebanon to have received a trans-catheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

The semi-invasive TAVI procedure uses the catheterization approach to replace a severely calcified or narrowed aortic valve, eliminating the need for open-heart surgery. For patients with conditions rendering them unable to undergo open-heart surgery TAVI is an effective alternative to replace the valve with proven survival benefit. It also improves the quality of life.

“Our 92-year-old patient had severe emphysematous lung disease and could not undergo surgery. Prior to her TAVI procedure she was getting hospitalized for pulmonary edema on an almost weekly basis and required powerful, dangerous medications,” said Dr. Omar Hamoui. “ After the TAVI procedure, she had a very good recovery, and was discharged home on day four. It has been more than two months since her discharge and she has not needed any additional hospitalizations. Her breathing is now normal.”

On a global scale, the TAVI procedure has proven to be an effective therapeutic alternative to conventional surgery in the treatment of severe aortic valve disease. Severe aortic stenosis is a critical condition that leads to heart failure and death if not treated. Most of the patients diagnosed with this ailment are elderly and often have comorbid conditions.

The cardiovascular team at CMC responsible for the unprecedented procedure on such an elderly patient is composed of an interventional cardiologist, a cardio-thoracic surgeon, an imaging cardiologist, a cardiac anesthesiologist, and cardiac nurses/ technicians.

Clemenceau Medical Center, in affiliation with Johns Hopkins Medicine International, announced its third annual Gastroenterology Symposium that was held on Sept. 17, 2015, in Beirut, Lebanon. Physicians from around the region gathered to discuss the latest trends and discoveries in gastroenterology, including new treatments for hepatitis C, improved understanding of gluten sensitivity and allergy, and enhanced dietary and supplement advice for patients with liver disease. The theme for this year’s symposium—From traditional therapies to state-of-the-art biomedicine: Evidence to Practice—highlighted the importance of preventive health and the latest treatments designed to produce the best patient outcomes.

“Gatherings like this one are an important forum for physicians to learn from each other by sharing research, best practices and conferring about trends we are seeing in our practice,” says Dr. Kalaawi, CEO of Clemenceau Medical Center. “The takeaways will help us advance care in the region.”

Three Johns Hopkins Medicine faculty based in Baltimore, USA, travelled to Beirut to present at the continuing medical education credited event. Linda Lee, M.D., founder and director of Johns Hopkins Integrative Medicine and Digestive Center and clinical director of the division of gastroenterology and hepatology, discussed how milk thistle and its derivatives are used to treat liver disease, and how to distinguish gluten sensitivity from gluten allergy and recognize their clinical manifestations. Zhiping Li, M.D., director of hepatology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and associate professor of medicine, covered the epidemiology of fatty liver disease and its impact to health, new techniques for screening for and treating hepatitis C, and diagnosing autoimmune hepatitis. Mark Lazarev, M.D., assistant professor of medicine, shared insight on available medications, nutrition guidelines and health issues of patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

“This year’s symposium addressed topics and common digestive disorders that are of interest to both physicians and patients,” Ammar Ghazale, M.D., ‎a gastroenterologist and interventional endoscopist at Clemenceau Medical Center. “We believe educating patients about their disorders and therapies helps them take an active role in improving their quality of life.”
Clemenceau Medical Center, one of the top private hospitals in Lebanon and the region, and Johns Hopkins Medicine International, the global arm of Johns Hopkins Medicine, have been affiliated since 2002 (years before its inauguration) . Through their collaboration, the two organizations have developed different clinical programs, supported all three Joint Commission International reaccreditation processes and strengthened capacity by providing lectures, workshops, seminars and conferences on site covering the topics of gastroenterology, cardiology, oncology, orthopedics, women’s health, internal medicine and nursing leadership, among others.

Clemenceau Medical Center in collaboration with City Centre Beirut activates “Feel the Beat” to Increase Awareness about Heart Disease in Women (15/06/2015)

To raise awareness about women’s heart problems and diseases, City Centre Beirut launched an in mall activity under the title of “Feel the Beat” in collaboration with Clemenceau Medical Center CMC affiliated with Johns Hopkins International, a medical center with the most innovative treatments and technologies in the region .

For the third consecutive year, City Centre Beirut took the lead to invite women of all ages to be more aware about the numerous cardiovascular diseases that highly affect women, get their hearts health checked and tune in to a healthy lifestyle.

Commenting on this occasion, Sleiman Mallat, Senior Mall Manager at City Centre Beirut stated: "For the past three years, City Centre Beirut has shown its commitment to its community through raising awareness about an important cause which is women’s health.” He added, Through “Feel the Beat” activation, not only did we help women become more informed about this serious issue, but also gave them the chance to have preventive tests on the spot, with tips on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle.”

About this event, Dr. Mounes Kalaawi , Chief Executive Officer at Clemenceau Medical Center stated: “Its great opportunity to reach the community to perform health awareness, a healthy lifestyle and recommendations to make smart choices that benefit the heart and overall health and to reduce the risks of occurring the chronic disease especially the cardiovascular, which affect a large number of the population worldwide.”

Over the course of 2 days; June 11th and June 12th, women were invited to perform a series of free tests that can prevent or detect potential heart disease. These tests that included blood pressure and blood sugar tests, Body composition/ BMI and Heart saver training/ CPR were performed by a specialized team of Physicians, senior Dietician and Registered Nurses from CMC

About the Clemenceau Medical Center
Clemenceau Medical Center (CMC) (http://www.cmc.com.lb), established in 2006 and affiliated with Johns Hopkins Medicine International, is a state-of-the-art medical center in the heart of Beirut, Lebanon. CMC is JCI accredited and is capable of delivering high-quality health care services in a timely, cost-efficient and pleasant environment to patients from Lebanon and the Middle East. Its mission being “Caring, Safety, Excellence”, Clemenceau Medical Center has established centers of excellence in several specialties, including imaging and laboratory services, cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery, oncology, digestive and liver diseases, neurosurgery, and minimally invasive, robotic and colorectal surgery. CMC houses all specialty branches and is fully equipped with the most advanced medical technology.

CMC First Spine Summit in collaboration with Johns Hopkins Medicine International (22/05/2015)

Clemenceau Medical Center (CMC), affiliated with Johns Hopkins International, held its first Spine Summit at its premises on May 22nd and May 23rd 2015. The event, also held in collaboration with the Lebanese American University (LAU), was attended by many guests and attracted renowned local and international specialists who provided the latest updates on spinal surgery and complications, including degenerative cervical spine, degenerative lumber spine, spinal Infections, spinal deformity, spinal trauma, and spinal oncology.

CEO of Clemenceau Medical Center, Dr. Mounes Kalaawi stated: “Hosting the first Spine Summit in Lebanon, in collaboration with Johns Hopkins Medicine International, was a real honor for Clemenceau Medical Center. The event’s great success confirmed CMC’s importance and role within the Lebanese and international healthcare system as well as its commitment to be a leader in terms in continuous education. We believe that the best way to deliver world class healthcare to our patients and stay at the forefront of new techniques is to allow exchange of knowledge between the best specialists in the world through such events.”

Keynote speakers and experts from major universities and medical centers in Lebanon, the Middle East and John Hopkins took part in the summit. Among them were Dr. Youssef Comair, Dr. Mohammad Badra, Dr. Nizar Natout, Dr. Khalil Kharrat, Dr. Chahine Assi, Dr. Ibrahim Saikali; and from Johns Hopkins, Dr. Ali Bydon, Dr. Timothy F. Witham, Dr. Khaled M. Kebaish, and Dr. George I. Jallo. The event was also attended by key opinion leaders and members of the press.

Activity Director and Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Mohammad Badra, affirmed: “This summit offers attendees two days of focused discussion and opportunities to advance spinal cord medicine and health care from top experts and specialists. Our goal is to provide attendees with the most updated and vital information that can be put to immediate use to improve the care of the SCI/D patients”.

CMC’s Spine Summit is a platform that gives physicians and experts from different countries the opportunity to exchange knowledge and expertise about the most advanced surgical techniques and technologies related to spinal conditions and diseases. The creation of the summit goes hand in hand with CMC’s mission to offer avant-garde treatments and technologies to patients from Lebanon and the Middle East. CMC is an ultra-modern medical institution fully equipped with the most advanced technology, recognized as one of the top hospitals in the Middle East.

Clemenceau Medical Center tops the list of nominations for the Building Healthcare Awards 2015 (20/05/2015)

Clemenceau Medical Center (CMC) again tops the list of nominations for the Building Healthcare Awards 2015

Clemenceau Medical Center (CMC) has once again been shortlisted for several prestigious awards at the annual Building Healthcare Middle East Exhibition & Conference 2015, formerly known as Hospital Build & Infrastructure Middle East Exhibition & Congress.

Shortlisted nominees come from UAE, Qatar, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia and were chosen from more than 100 nominees who have excelled in the region's hospital build and infrastructure sector.

Always a top contender, CMC, affiliated with Johns Hopkins International, is the front runner in the shortlist of Middle East healthcare facilities, nominated for 5 out of the 8 categories: Best Physical Environment Award, Best Healing Environment Award, Best Laboratory Design Award, Best Technology Initiative Award, and Best Facilities Management Service Strategy Award.

“Witnessing CMC being nominated, not only across several categories, but also year after year, showcases what can be achieved when high-quality design is coupled with highly effective healthcare delivery- the core and underlying principle of the CMC concept,” commented Dr. Mounes Kalaawi, CEO of Clemenceau Medical Center.

The Building Healthcare Exhibition & Conferences recognizes excellence in the design, operation and management of healthcare facilities in the Middle East. It also provides a platform on which to discuss new healthcare projects, share best practice in design and construction, and source technologies and services that will maximize facility operations and improve patient experience.

The winners will be announced at the Building Healthcare Middle East Exhibition & Conferences on the 9th of June 2015 at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre.

Using Interventional Radiology to Treat Cancer
Interventional radiology (IR) offers innovative, non-surgical treatment options to patients with a wide variety of conditions and diseases, including cancer. Using minimally-invasive techniques under imaging guidance, interventional radiologists are uniquely skilled in delivering precision-targeted therapy to malignancies in virtually any part of the body.

One of the most exciting IR developments is a technique called radioembolization. At Clemenceau Medical Center, we are excited to report that our Interventional Radiologist Dr. Kabalane Yammine has performed the first three cases in Lebanon to treat liver tumors that are inoperable. Clemenceau Medical Center is the only medical center in Lebanon using this novel approach.

Big Hope in Small Package
Radioembolization is an outpatient procedure that delivers radiation directly to the tumor site. Interventional radiologists use a catheter to place millions of microspheres—minute particles that emit radiation—into the blood vessels, or capillaries, feeding the tumor(s). The microspheres become trapped, cutting off of the tumor(s) blood supply and destroying malignant cells that are inaccessible by other techniques.

Why Radioembolization for Primary and Metastatic Liver Tumors?
In addition to being an excellent option for patients with inoperable primary and metastatic liver tumors, radioembolization can be used in conjunction with other treatment modalities, such as chemotherapy, and as a bridging technique prior to radiofrequency ablation, surgery or transplantation.

This highly localized technique addresses the challenges commonly associated with other cancer treatments by delivering radiation only to where it is needed. Healthy liver tissue remains relatively unaffected, and patients rarely experience fatigue, nausea or vomiting.

Radioembolization is bringing new hope for greater survival to people with primary and metastatic liver cancer. It is also enhancing the quality of life for these patients by minimizing therapy-related discomfort, recovery time and side effects.

Clemenceau Medical Center (CMC) (http://www.cmc.com.lb), established in 2006 and affiliated with Johns Hopkins Medicine International, is a state-of-the-art medical center in the heart of Beirut, Lebanon. CMC is JCI accredited and is capable of delivering high-quality health care services in a timely, cost-efficient and pleasant environment to patients from Lebanon and the Middle East. Its mission being “Caring, Safety, Excellence”, Clemenceau Medical Center has established centers of excellence in several specialties, including imaging and laboratory services, cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery, oncology, digestive and liver diseases, neurosurgery, and minimally invasive, robotic and colorectal surgery. CMC houses all specialty branches and is fully equipped with the most advanced medical technology.

Clemenceau Medical Center is accredited for the third time from Joint Commission International (19/01/2015)

Clemenceau Medical Center in affiliation with Johns Hopkins International has been accredited for the third time after three years from its Joint Commission International (JCI) Re-accreditation in 2012. Accreditation and certification are granted to health care organizations that meet a set of standard requirements designed to improve quality of care. CMC was 99.6% compliant with the 285 standard requirements of the 1160 Measurable elements set by JCI Reaccreditation.

“This was not a good report, that was an excellent report” said Robert Christmas, team leader of JCI surveyor team. “We are leaving CMC carrying with us hundreds of best practices that can be shared with other institutes worldwide” added the JCI surveyor team.

Dr. Mounes Kalaawi, Chief Executive Officer of CMC hospital stated:” Clemenceau Medical Center Accreditation for the third time by JCI is an outstanding achievement for Lebanon and the region.
Today CMC’s commitment to quality and service excellence once again is recognized and exceeded all expectations.
I am sure that maintaining our JCI Accreditation for the third time is a testament to the hard work, professionalism and commitment to excellence in patient care that we developed in this hospital over the last 10 years. CMC is continuously raising healthcare quality and standards to higher level “.

The Joint Commission International (JCI) works to improve patient safety and quality of health care in the International community by offering international accreditation and certification as well as through advisory and educational services in order to promote rigorous standards of care and to provide solutions for achieving peak performance.

Second Cancer Care Forum 2014 in collaboration with Johns Hopkins Medicine International (17/10/2014)

Clemenceau Medical Center (CMC), affiliated with Johns Hopkins International, held for the second year in a row the Cancer Care Forum on the 17th and 18th of November 2014.
The forum was a success. Attended by hundreds of guests, it attracted local, regional and international multi-disciplinary specialists who presented lectures covering topics related to the care of cancer patients including, screening for cancer, prevention, research, quality, multidisciplinary approach and latest treatment modalities.

Dr. Mounes Kalaawi, Chief Executive Officer at CMC said “It is our honor to host the Second Cancer Care Forum in collaboration with Johns Hopkins Medicine International confirming CMC’s commitment to be at the forefront of healthcare innovation in Lebanon and the region, bringing forward a multitude of knowledge and experience.” He added “Local, regional and international patients deserve the best quality of care and CMC will always aim to provide the world class healthcare through continuous education to its team”.

Professor Marwan Ghosn, Director of the Cancer Center at CMC and Chairman of the Forum, summarized the key topics discussed during the meeting:
“Currently available chemotherapy kills normal cells as well as cancer cells, leading to serious side effects. The immune system, meanwhile, is remarkably effective at combating bacterial and viral invaders while sparing normal cells, but the goal of coaxing immune cells to target cancer has eluded researchers for decades. The new frontier in cancer treatment is getting a person’s own immune system to eliminate tumors, rather than targeting the cancer cells with chemotherapy. In contrast to conventional cancer treatments, Immunotherapies can lead to very durable clinical responses. Novel agents, including checkpoint inhibitors such as anti-PD-1 antibody, anti-PD-L1 antibody and CTLA-4 inhibitors are being developed. Positive results were observed.”

Progress in the management of Spinal tumors by advanced surgical techniques and stereotactic or cyber knife radiotherapy were exposed.
In addition, Lung Cancer occupied a big part of the discussion focusing on the extremely promising results of immunotherapy in this disease and highlighting the minimally invasive new procedure in the evaluation of these tumors (Endobronchial ultrasound - EBUS).

Palliative care took an important place of the forum. Myths and taboos in cancer care in Middle East Countries were reviewed.
Finally, “Simulation” an innovative, a method to train practicing nurses and other health care professionals on new procedures and healthcare techniques was highlighted. Its major role to generate better quality in the management and support of the patients were exposed.

Beirut’s Clemenceau Medical Center affiliated with Johns Hopkins International achieves medical tourism certification for excellence in quality of care and services for medical travelers by the Medical Travel Quality Alliance.

September 5, 2014 – Beirut and Scottsdale – Clemenceau Medical Center affiliated with Johns Hopkins International, as one of the world’s best hospitals for medical tourists, has become the first hospital in Lebanon to achieve international medical tourism certification from the US-based Medical Travel Quality Alliance.

“We are thrilled to be able to award medical tourism certification to such an outstanding hospital. After a review of its operations and processes for care and services to medical tourists, our evaluators have determined that it offers excellent and upstanding services to the international patients and medical travelers that seek care at Clemenceau,” announced Julie Munro, President of MTQUA.

Medical tourism certification is awarded to a hospital, clinic or medical tourism agency that meets the international standard of quality in 10 non-clinical areas that directly impact a medical tourist’s well-being and good results.

“Achieving certification is a great pride. It puts Lebanon in the top niche as a world's leading destination for international patients" said Dr. Mounes Kalaawi, CEO of Clemenceau Medical Center. By providing a strong foundation of quality, in all our patient care processes we have delivered exceptional value to both our Lebanese, regional and international patients. We fulfilled our mission which is “caring safety, excellence”.
He added: “This certification comes after we have achieved further distinctions in patient satisfaction. Our strategic aims at positioning Clemenceau Hospital Center as the first choice not only for local patients but also for all the patients in the world seeking excellence in the medical care, the best medical knowledge and experience, the best technology available”.

Seal displayed by medical tourism certified hospitals, clinics and agencies.
The MTQUA evaluation team reviewed how the hospital manages a medical tourist including the inquiry process, intake procedure, and care management after discharge. They studied the hospital’s website and internet marketing, communication procedures, privacy and security measures, multicultural sensitivity, International Patient Services department, care support services and certain operations and business procedures that influence the quality of treatment and care a medical tourist receives.

“Medical tourists are not ordinary patients,” said Ms. Munro. “They need more attention, not only in matters of comfort but more important, in matters of care. They want to know that they can trust the hospital or the agency to deliver on what they promise. We are confident they will get all of this from My Medical Vacations.”

CMC- an authorized American Heart Association (AHA) International Training Center (ITC) for life saving CPR and first aid training (06/08/2014)

Clemenceau Medical Center has been officially recognized as an American Heart Association (AHA) International Training Center (ITC) for life saving CPR and first aid training.

AHA is the oldest and largest established voluntary organization devoted to fighting cardiovascular diseases and strokes in the world; it is a professional body approved by Joint Commission International Accreditation (JCIA ) for all life saving CPR and first aid training.

CMC among the 30 Most Technologically Advanced Hospitals in the World (16/06/2014)

Clemenceau Medical Center (CMC), affiliated with Johns Hopkins International was selected among the “30 Most Technologically Advanced Hospitals in the World” by Master’s in Healthcare Administration - MHA 2014 (http://www.topmastersinhealthcare.com/30-most-technologically-advanced-hospitals-in-the-world/). CMC was chosen among hospitals across the globe with high-tech medical care and state-of-the art equipment. The hospital was recognized as one of the most technologically advanced hospitals in the world for seeking excellence in medical care, the best medical knowledge and experience, the best technology available.

This ranking comes in recognition of CMC’s continuous efforts to establish an internationally renowned reputation in the medical sector.
Completed in 2005, CMC is an ultra-modern medical institution fully equipped with the most advanced technology, recognized as one of the top hospitals in the Middle East.
CMC is the first facility in Lebanon and the region that provides a multi-disciplinary Robotic surgery program. CMC patients are among the first to benefit from avant -garde treatments & technologies.

“We at CMC are extremely proud to be identified as one of the leading health care institutions in the world” said Dr. Mounes Kalaawi, CEO of Clemenceau Medical Center. “The services at CMC have been designed around the needs of patients to enhance the quality of care and speed-up diagnosis and treatment. Our ultimate aim remains to improve the patient experience by providing the best of the world to our patients in Lebanon and the region” he added.

CMC has won the “Best Facilities Management Service Strategy” award at the awards ceremony during Hospital Build & Infrastructure Exhibition & Congress, held in Dubai on June 2, 2014 to recognize outstanding healthcare facilities in the Middle East. The hospital has also been highly commended for “Best Hospital Design”, “Best Physical Environment”, “Best Laboratory Design” and “Best Healing Environment” awards.

‘Best Facilities Management Service Strategy Award’ is a newly introduced category granted for outstanding healthcare service providers who have demonstrated excellence in the provision of a facilities management strategy that embraces the widest possible scope of services, meeting the needs of the clinical teams and improving patient safety.

“What an honor to be recognized this year again, by regional and international leaders in the healthcare sector,” commented Dr. Mounes Kalaawi, CEO of Clemenceau Medical Center, who, in his thank you note to the team wrote “Once again this year, your commitment to quality and service excellence is recognized beyond our organization, at the hospital build Dubai. I am proud as you all should be, thanks to your hard work, commitment and loyalty.”

Arab Health Achievement & Innovation Awards (27/01/2014)

Clemenceau Medical Center (CMC), affiliated with Johns Hopkins International, has once again been shortlisted for two awards at the 2014 Arab Health Achievement and Innovation Awards; the Roche Excellence in Laboratory Award and the Excellence in Patient Centered Care Award. The awards recognize individuals, hospitals, departments, teams or organizations that contribute to the growth and development of the healthcare industry throughout the Middle East.

Roche Excellence in Laboratory Award is presented to the organization or department that has made the greatest contribution in the field of medical laboratory. The criteria for selection are based on evidence of true positive results; safety within the laboratory; waste management policy and blood management policy; Patient identification; innovation and continuous improvement.
The Excellence in Patient Centered Care Award is presented to the hospital or institution that has developed the most effective patient centered care approach in the region. As for the criteria for selection, it encloses initiatives implemented to make the hospital or institution more patients friendly; initiatives implemented to educate patients; evidence of increasing patient satisfaction; patient privacy and patient rights.